” Many older grownups take a multivitamin, believing it will assist them stay healthy,” said Michels, a research partner at OSUs Linus Pauling Institute. “However, previous research studies have shown mixed outcomes when it comes to multivitamins and illness risk. We needed to know why there was a lot unpredictability. Is it possible that multivitamins arent as efficient at changing nutrition biomarkers in older grownups?”
The research group, that included eight OSU researchers, recruited 35 healthy men age 68 or greater for the double-blind research study– half received a Centrum Silver supplement, the other half got a placebo, and participants did not understand what they were getting. None of the participants was enabled to take other supplements throughout the study, other than for vitamin D if it was prescribed by their physician.
” Our tests showed that much of these older males were not obtaining the optimum levels of a number of vitamins when the research study started,” said Hagen, principal detective and Helen P. Rumbel Professor for Healthy Aging Research at the Linus Pauling Institute. “So there certainly was room for improvement.”
After the six-month trial, distinctions in the supplement and placebo groups became apparent. While those taking the multivitamin revealed enhanced biomarkers of nutrition, those on the placebo did not.
” Several of the individuals assigned to the placebo group had blood nutrition biomarkers fall throughout the study,” said Hagen, who is also a teacher of biochemistry and biophysics at OSU. “It recommends that food alone was insufficient to keep their vitamin and carotenoid levels up.”
Carotenoids are yellow, orange and red pigments manufactured by plants, and they play multiple roles in human health. Some carotenoids like beta-carotene can provide the body with an extra source of vitamin A.
Although the scientists did not determine disease threat, they did test white blood cells, part of the bodys body immune system.
” We were impressed to discover that the men who took the placebo showed decrease in cellular oxygen consumption,” Hagen added, keeping in mind that oxygen intake is an indicator of cell function. “This was not observed in guys who took the multivitamin, suggesting a connection between vitamin status and white blood cell function that we are excited to explore even more.”
The scientists believe the study is the beginning of a brand-new era for multivitamin research.
” Our evidence shows that many older males could benefit from a day-to-day multivitamin, but the response did differ from individual to specific,” Michels said. “Knowing who benefits one of the most and why will be essential for multivitamin trials that examine illness risk in the future.”
Recommendation: “Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplementation Reverses or prevents Decline in Vitamin Biomarkers and Cellular Energy Metabolism in Healthy Older Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study” by Alexander J. Michels, Judy A. Butler, Sandra L. Uesugi, Ken Lee, Balz B. Frei, Gerd Bobe, Kathy R. Magnusson and Tory M. Hagen, 9 June 2023, Nutrients.DOI: 10.3390/ nu15122691.
The research study group consisted of the Linus Pauling Institutes Judy Butler, Sandra Uesugi, Ken Lee, Balz Frei, Gerd Bobe and Kathy Magnusson. The researchers also represent OSUs colleges of Science and Agricultural Sciences and Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine.
A research study by Oregon State University discovered that daily multivitamin/multimineral supplementation improved key nutrition biomarkers and kept cellular function in healthy older men. While participants taking a supplement showed improved biomarkers, those taking a placebo showed no change and a reduction in cellular oxygen intake. The research suggests that multivitamins can play a substantial role in promoting health as people age. Credit: Oregon State
A six-month research study of healthy older men demonstrated that day-to-day multivitamin/multimineral supplements had a positive effect on crucial nutrition biomarkers.
The research led by Oregon State Universitys Tory Hagen and Alexander Michels likewise revealed that the changes in nutrition status might have direct connections to cellular function, determined by the oxygen intake of the research study participants blood cells.
The findings, published in the journal Nutrients, recommend that supplements might be an essential tool to assist people stay much healthier as they age.
A study by Oregon State University found that everyday multivitamin/multimineral supplementation enhanced key nutrition biomarkers and maintained cellular function in healthy older guys. While participants taking a supplement showed enhanced biomarkers, those taking a placebo showed no modification and a decrease in cellular oxygen consumption.” Many older adults take a multivitamin, thinking it will help them stay healthy,” said Michels, a research partner at OSUs Linus Pauling Institute. “However, previous research studies have actually shown mixed results when it comes to multivitamins and illness risk. Is it possible that multivitamins arent as reliable at changing nutrition biomarkers in older grownups?”